Shes so small! Is that a woman or a drawf? (open)

[Cadence]

Dakota giggled and tried to imagine it. She thought it fairly adorable, not so much in an animal sense. Simply the thought of a happy go lucky person made her warm up to the image.

“Aw, I’m sure they’re just as adorable. Surely they don’t have near as much charm though.” She teased with a coy smile.

As the breeze then blew a wee bit more than it was earlier she cuddled closer, shivering slightly. She obviously didn’t have much on her in the ways of warmth and had she not she didn’t have much flesh and bone to keep her warm either. She simply wasn’t used to the moist chill to the air. While refreshing it did make her a bit cold. The sky dimmed a bit but the luminous colors and the sound of bits of water did sooth her. The sounds of nature even in this between land gave her hope for a better future.

“I’m so plain. There really isn’t much experience I can hold as truly thoughtful. Sometimes I thought of being someone else, however the idea simply seemed so far fetched. I decided accepting me for the most part was the best I could hope for. Father never really liked me conversing with men.” She giggled.

“I’m sure he’d get a kick out of this. Being hauled up like a child.”

She thought to herself with a small smile. Dakota didn’t have much with the ways of men or women for the most part. Her father kept her ‘safe’ was how he established her solitary quarters. When she did wander men took a liking to her and a friend was a friend. Dakota wasn’t a very solo person in the making. She enjoyed company and easily became lonely and sad being by herself all the time.

“It’s a nice piece of work. Quite lovely. Although I am not sure who you would speak to. You would most likely have to track down the generations of smith’s who did the work. I’m sure they have a certain way of things if it is a generational sword.” She said with a smile.

She pulled her arms into her chest to keep warm seeing as for some reason her hands were ice cold. Dakota didn’t want to give him a fright or bother him with saying she was a bit chilled. She was sure she could bare it, nothing short of a trooper. Plus, no complaining from her was a policy, especially with someone so kind doing her a favor.

“Tell me about yourself. I’m curious.” She grinned and watched his eyes, they were indeed a pretty shade of green.

[Corvus MacCallum]

"You aren't plain, the problem is that you just haven't had the opportunity to get out in life and experiance things. Being yourself though, damn... It can take a lot of people years and years of mindless existence before they finally realise that as the best course of action, for myself it was very instinctive on what I'd become... I thrilled in the hunt. I loved to explore and find new areas of my homeland, think I was even the youngest Highlander at that point to venture into the Snow Wastes and return without losing a toe heheh"

Further and further along the two were brought along their own little idyllic paradise of rustic river-bank. Whatever chilled wind tried to mark against his suprisingly fresh face just could not gain a foot-hold, he was more than used to temperatures far below... and even above this, a Highlander was a survivor and quick to adapt. He was more than aware of just what kind of girl he was carrying and more importantly, alert enough to feel those soft little shiverings as her muscles tried to keep heat within them. Further shuffle of his shoulders brought the Back-pack flopping off and onto the crook of his elbow, bit awkward but for the next step it was rather essential.

"Don't just sit and shiver lass, its a bit stiff on the outside, but inside of this is pretty comfy. Do me a favour and put it on alright?... Worse comes to worst don't want you sneezing over me furred hide."

A bright smile, a shaking of laughter and then very lightly easing her off his chest just so she could get that poncho off. He had to admit, the sight of her in this particular garment would look rather amusing, possibly drowned in the firey colours.

"I'd be happy to tell you about myself, but only on two conditions... first, you also tell me about you and second, very important this, you can narrow it down a bit. My mind wanders quite badly at times and I'd like to keep as on-topic as I can to answer you."

[Cadence]

She pouted softly like a child and nodded. Quickly helping him so he wouldn’t have to hold her so awkwardly. The warmth immediately insolated her by the material alone and she cooed softly like a content toddler. Snuggling within it she smiled charmingly at the man.

“Thank you very much for taking care of me. I probably seem like such a fool to most people.” She laughed lightly and grinned.

Dakota leaned back into his chest and yawned lightly, not being tired but the urge was still there. The chilled air didn’t bite at her as she was warm not but she was still amazed by the skies color. Being in his arms hindered her peripheral vision and she couldn’t exactly look around the ground. However, the sky was ablaze of color, like a canvas splattered with random artist’s paints. She sighed in contentment before looking up at Cor again.

“I suppose. I merely take what people tell me as the truth. I feel like if I were to give an opinion it might be biased.”

Dakota’s small frame was lost in the fabric but she didn’t mind, it was nice not to have to stare at her blaringly white flesh. She felt so pale, like snow white compared to Cor. It made her blush and feel just a wee bit self-conscious. She easily mentally berated herself for that thought though. Dakota was pale, she had to get over it and not be so girly all the time. This action of blushing she saw as girly seeing as she rarely did it. She remembered women always giggling loudly, blushing and then pretending to faint to grab a man’s attention.

“I suppose that all happened a bit didn’t it? Although I didn’t fake a wound…” She was talking to herself and forgot that Cor could probably hear her statement and not her thoughts. Thus probably confusing the poor soul with her childish blabbering about useless things.

“About yourself. Perhaps… your mother and father? Or siblings. Home life, something good. A positive memory that strikes you. You may wish whatever you ask of me. I will gladly tell it. Oh! I know of an idea. We shall play twenty questions. I know it’s a wee bit childish but I can’t help myself.” Her enthusiasm must have at least caused anyone to want to laugh at her but she didn’t mind.

“So with that said, tell me about your home. Mum and pop included.” She said it with such childish glee and a dreamy look in her eye.

She watched him closely, still mainly watching his eyes. Hoping he didn’t call her on it but then again she was sure she would. Especially if someone were simply staring at her face for long periods of time.

[Corvus MacCallum]

The Highlander gave a rather steady laugh, rarely though did he seem to laugh fully, often the noises just had to slip past his smirk and those dangerous teeth.

"You don't come off that way lass, ill-prepared maybe but if you have to flee from somewhere sharpish it can be hard to make sure you pack all the essentials like a warm coat, bedding supplies, flint, kindling when starting out. I'll fix you up a list when... or, if, we hit town... this is a bloody long path."

They couldn't have been travelling that long, but with the conversation and moments of interest along the way he'd certainly not been keeping track of time as clearly as a good Vagabond traveller should. With the Poncho removed it showed off just how Corvus carted around his two large swords, in fitting tradition it was pretty damn hap-hazard but functional, lashings of leather straps, belts, metal plates. All of it to make something for his Slammer to be chained to and for his Katana to be sheathed on, he had toyed with adding the Broadsword but it just wasn't long enough, plus far handier to have it at hand. Thinking about weapons and equipment while carrying a pleasant very cheerful woman in his mitts, such bad priorities, bad wolf!

"Homeland... hmm, that could be a bit of meaty subject. You don't have to worry about dredging up bad memories or anything, I try to take a positive spin on everything that happens in my life, even the loss of my pack-mates is positive in some way, its made me the solo adventurer I am today. But back on topic yea. Well Highlanders are a pretty small population so we just have the one main settlement, placed called Danube and I was the only kid my mum and dad managed... maybe that changed after I left, no idea to be honest. My Dad was a real Alpha male in so many respects, but only through hard-graft, my people believe if anything is worthwhile, it has to be earned... trust, respect, loyalty, posessions."

His eyes fell upon Dakota for a brief moment, wondering how she was going to interpret his people, he wasn't exactly an unusual case study of Highlanders but in many ways exceptional and he'd known it for a long time.

Sounds so horribly Egotistical, but they kept telling me I had potential... potentials good, I feel good about being, potentially good... I'm lost now, fuck it.

"Sometimes we have scrapes in the village with Slaver clans, Highlanders have massive endurance so as labour we make tempting targets, course we also fight like all fuck and so far theres never been a big problem. My Dad was the leader of the villages defence, one of perhaps the only guys who could rally the Ferals in the out-lying lands with a single howl. We got on pretty decently, I was a bit of a hot-head at times though and so at times there'd be some disagreements... never arguements though, my dad made sure to point out that what I whinged about wasn't important. He was entirely right, didn't think so then, but what kid honestly wants to believe that the parents really do know best?"

He just realised he hadn't taken his eyes off Dakota and with a quick shake of his noggin tried to rectify what could be a pretty bad faux pas and attempt to work out a better place to focus his sight, in his brief little break from talking his fingers were fidgeting slightly again, but the resulting restrained giggles got him back to reality and decided... hell with it, might as well look at her.

"My Mother though... now dad was the tallest dog around, he was big man of the village, never acted it, straight-laced and stoic. My Mother... had him right under her thumb at the faintest bark..."

At this he couldn't help it and started to cackle sharply, eyes closing, head leaning in, if it wasn't for Dakota he probably would've doubled over. Just that stark image of his powerful dad, warrior to end all within the village... whimpering and whining when his mother berated him, beautiful.

"I probably take after her the most, or my Grand-dad, only know stories about him though. But she was a pretty free-spirited thing in her youth according to a few of the Grey hairs. Definately have a right love of life even when she was raising me, not much for fighting to be fair, but she knew how to sort a problem when it arose. Plus... there are wonders in this world, but goddamn is it something special to see your own mother ripping apart a field with her bare claws for farming after shooing away the cattle on being too weak. Amazing woman, utterly."

Slow drawn in breath and then a long released sigh of rememberance, both his parents were still alive to the best of his knowledge and living their lives just like they had done. Was a reassuring thought, ah the lands of home, was almost a shame Highlanders were such a rare sight around the rest of the world, so rarely did he have decent competition at the pubs. On the bright side meant he didn't have to rush around trying to snap up the big monster kills, his people did so love their big conquests.

"Nooooowwww, what shall I ask of thee, hmm."

Simple logical deduction meant he wasn't going to question her in the same way, she'd run off from her house-hold, gotten a few souviniers for her trouble too, bad mojo in that rememberance, no maybe a different course.

"Ah theres a topic, can see all those colours through the sky reflecting in your eyes, you've got the same look I've seen on a few artists, so do tell, how'd you get into it?"

[Cadence]

Dakota was listening intently to his stories. She was fascinated, was probably the only word fit enough to describe it. Coming from a broken home she loved to imagine life with a family. Albeit they had mishaps or something to that vibe but the thought. A mother, father, a family. A nice warm home, it made her deeply wounded and all together elated at the same time. The mixture swirled in her eyes without fail but she found it nice to hear regardless.

The thought of his people actually sounded nice. It seemed to hold a positive simplicity that she found most people lacked. Humans from what she had come to experience were too complicated and always had an agenda for every occasion. Normally it was always put in a negative connotation and it wound up injuring more than it aided. She sighed softly, thinking of her mother. She couldn’t remember her face but being left on the street is one thing a child doesn’t easily forget. She saw that as an agenda, having a child to keep a man while secretly dumping it else where after the wedding. An agenda, it ruined most lives she believed. She giggled softly at the thought of his mother, the image in her head was quite amusing.

“She sounds wonderful.” She mentioned lightly.

Now Dakota had to ponder how she got into art, not sure exactly how to explain it. She figured that being a blacksmith’s daughter just wasn’t right for her. One could tell just looking at her small delicate digits and mousy frame. While she was part of the family in some respects, she just wasn’t the burly male figures like her step-brothers. So she tried her chances at something she actually had a passion to do. While smith’s work was fun and albeit soothing since she pictured half those rods putting into the flames as her brothers. It simply didn’t sway her.

“I suppose I got into it because I just wasn’t born into it like my step-brothers. I mean look.” She wiggled her delicate fingers in front of her to prove her point.

They were fairly small and looked like they couldn’t even hold a sword albeit capable. She just giggled lightly and smiled.

“I took to something that really made me want to live. It just got me much better than smithing did. I suppose it fit me better too, since my brother’s never wanted me in the picture. I picked something I wouldn’t have to compete with them over. It wasn’t a contest I had found but a way of life that definitely soothed me. My step-mum had originally bought me paints secretly. Pop didn’t too much like me too much trying new things. I had his partnership and he expected me to be pacified with that.”

She smiled lightly and gave a small shrug. She wasn’t sure how else she could word it. Dakota would probably wind up just talking mindlessly and getting him confused.

“He was nice, he just couldn’t see past a family business. I understand wanting to pass your skills down but it made his sons hate me in the process. A female blacksmith to them was like a joke.”

Dakota definitely showed disagreement in her eyes regardless if she didn’t want to do it. She didn’t see why they thought so lowly of women, as if they were incompetent. At least she knew she wasn’t, perhaps that is why she was so defensive.

“Hm. Another question to ask you. What about… Any ladies. Anyone catch your fancy back home?” She quirked a brow.

She figured every warrior or adventurer had someone they wanted to get back to. At least in her mind that is what she figured. She had not met many but by chance the few she did meet had a maiden in waiting.

[Corvus MacCallum]

"Nope."

He had to check her face just to see what reaction would spread through it at that little revelation. Had not been the first time the Highlander found himself questioned, or suspected of having some lass back home keeping the home-fires burning.

"It just never seemed to click with me and any of the girls back home. Were friendships, maybe on their side they wanted more, but I kinda doubt it... Everyone pretty much knew that I'd be leaving the village and really it was best if I didn't make any firm connections to cloud my mind or break some poor lasses heart. So I stayed a Bachelor and have done to this point, had one or two close encounters of the romantic but nothing solid."

In all honesty he would've been happy just to say nope, but perhaps the lass would've enjoyed a bit more elaboration and perhaps even some motivation as to why. For him it was a pretty cut and dry thing and not something that really held much grip on his life, not yet anyway. Actually made some victory celebrations with the Wolf Brothers a bit unpleasant, with their gold and fame they would fill a tavern with whores and wenches for their pleasures... and he'd just be looking forward to the moment he was able to slip out and head for the wilds. He typically got that feeling when in any building though, he was just not an in-door Wolf.

Now came the burden of picking the right avenue for his question, in truth his mind was still working over her being an artist. He could definately picture it and with those dainty little digits could probably get involved in sculpting too, or pottery. Certainly had the general frame of someone who preferred the arts, he could surmise that simply because even a simple dagger looked ill-suited from her frame. Perhaps important to stress it wasn't due to her height, it was the demeanour, she looked like the peaceful type, excitable and ticklish sure but not something who had an awakened killer instinct. Perhaps that might change someday, he certainly didn't hope it would.

"Still at a bit of a loss on a question... hmm, okay how about... yea how about Food? What you like and maybe a few weird fancies or such, for myself I'm stuck with meat and quite often I prefer it raw. Do my best to crunch down vegetables when I can, but its just not right for a Highlander stomach despite the health benefits"

[Cadence]

Dakota laughed lightly and shook her head. She was surprised she got more of an answer. Honestly, she had expected a one word. Men didn’t seem too fond on elaborating on much of anything. She took it all in stride though and had planned on simply letting him ask another regardless if he explained anything to her. At this moment she didn’t quite earn a reason to get answers out of him.

“Uhm food… that’s a bit of a conundrum. I would like to say mashed potatoes; I was always fond of those as a child. Perhaps Mangos… I do indeed love a good mango.” She trailed off with a childish grin.

She remembered when she was about eight or so. Mangos in her town were fairly rare. They weren’t harvested and the soil wasn’t very good for crops. However one man would come traveling through with all sorts of odd and strange fruits. Dakota’s small mind couldn’t fathom all the tropical colors as she perused through the little wagon. She settled on a bright red and orange fruit the man called a mango. She had fallen for them ever since and Dakota didn’t fall often for much of anything but art. She smiled at the memory, it was a good one that she kept of her childish endeavors.

“There was a man who came traveling through town. He always brought fruits from his travels. For me, his wagon was like a blur of tropical colors. Fruits with all sorts of shapes and they were wondrous for us as children. Mangos caught me eye due to the intense color and I thought if it looked pretty it might taste just as good. He told me about it a bit and gave one to me before being off again. Since then they have been a bit of a weakness for me. I don’t usually attain them but when I do I’m quite the little piglet.” She laughed lightly and gave a grin for good measure.

Now Dakota had to come up with an inquiry of her own. She wanted to make them count so she thought a moment. She had asked of family, a maiden. He had asked about food and her profession. What else could she possibly ask? Perhaps a battle? No, that was far to easy. He could easily go off on tangents. She was sure he had many a battle and would have plenty of stories. Pretty places? That was what she was curious about. She was not let out much, a story of new lands would be very interesting indeed.

“What about a pretty land you’ve seen. Anything that still seems to be recalled vividly as a nice place to wander through? Barren or not it all sits in the eye of the beholder I suppose. However, I am extremely curious.”

Just as she concluded voicing her thought her body convulsed mildly as she sneezed. She could not help it and continuosly sneezed until she was out of breath. Blushing profusely while nearly panting for air, she probably looked ridiculous. The red flush crawled across her freckled skin, framing her cheek bones and bringing out the color of her pink lips. She was tempted to say sorry but she figured there wasn't much to be sorry for. She could not count on when or not she would sneeze.

Yawning lightly she shook herself out of it and finally started to breath normally before grinning sheepishly.

"I hadn't sneezed on you!" She said with a smile.

[Corvus MacCallum]

"I'm very grateful for that too lass heheh. Hope you aren't catching something, last thing a healing body needs is a distraction. If it gets a bit darker how about you and me camp out tonight?... haven't the foggiest notion of when we'll hit a village, or even a farm-stead anyway. Not even spotted a fishing boat along these waters, pretty odd but not in a bad way."

The Highlander had almost felt like night crept upon them but after a few more steps wind pushed the clouds aside and gave them a great wash of colour through the sky. The sun was still setting but while it remained within sight there was no need to pitch up a camp and halt his journey. A journey he was starting to enjoy far too much to want an end of.

"Locations, well thats a tricky one... its just how varied things can get, well I'll run off a few and hopefully I'll have picked the right high-lights. First off, most dangerous... theres this almost cursed land way down in the South, very very small Kingdom, few outlying villages, nothing exceptional... place is called Findren and almost every single inch of the land is a foetid mire, sucking mud heaps, trapped gases violating the air and deadly creatures uglier than the land. Was a despicible filthy hole of a place, but it was an incredible location, houses built on vast stilts that gradually sank into the mire, great pontoon rafts to hold whatever good soil they could muster in order to grow crops. The castle of Findren is an awe-inspiring sight, theres no actual road to it, the land is just far too unstable to ever accept something so permanent. Long ago it used to be called a Monster land, where great beasts would come at some point in their lives, thats the only reason it got settled in fact."

Taking a moment he rejuggled all the details of the hideous place in his mind, about the Cultists, their strong-hold... the vast beast he had to kill, allowing himself to be captured in one of the Villages just so he could find the place... chains, horrible chains.

"But because of that, there are no good people in Findren, maybe honest ones... but everyone in that place is twisted or hateful and while Heroic deeds can be done, none are celebrated in that land, its all for the self and to have an easier life than any other. I'm hoping you'll never have to visit a place like that lass, though if you do, send word and I'll escort you, always helps to travel with something Scarier than the local fauna."

Chuckling quietly the Highlander continued his steps and leaps of thought, pouncing across his mental scape in an attempt to find somewhere notable for this lass to hear of. Findren sounded like some grisly childrens story to stop them leaving the house at night.

"Man its tricky working out a good location thats easy to find on a map, or even a region. In my travels I tend to avoid roads and just saunter wherever the wind takes me, through wild patches of forestry, along upheaved rocks or hell even across a mountain... fjorded several rivers too. In all honesty so much of my travels have been surrounded by genuinely beautiful locations, the sights, sounds... everything just worked so perfectly, harmony of nature, all that guff. You don't need to travel hundreds of miles to see an amazing location, sometimes it can be as simple as merely jogging half an hour out of town and taking a direction you've never seen the Traders head in. Sounds a bit philosophical but true enough, hope that answers your question luv."

Almost bit his tongue on that final word, he gotten some weird looks from calling females lass, it was just a typical word in his peoples community, the same with luv. Wether outsiders would term something like that so casually, he had gotten mixed results... some rather dangerous as he found himself high-tailing it from angry maidens who would call the guards on him. Then again those types of noble gits were always ready to try and put an adventurer in a place they believed them to fit in.

"Bugger, my turn again hmm..."

Crunch after crunch of strong soled foot against softly supportive sand kept the mismatched duo moving along. Corvus was doing his best to think of relevant and maybe even thought provoking questions for the girl, but she'd not had a chance to really get started in life and certainly it wasn't a fully pleasant experiance.

"Okay I've got a question, what do you think of me hahah?"

Finally, a laugh that got out from between those sets of so very lethal teeth.

"I'm joking, just pretty buggered thinking up a good topic. Oh how about guys in general, cute thing like yourself must have a hell of a time keeping them away, damn you already sorta answered that one didn't you?... least I think you did, memories a bit fuzzy... in truth, not the only thing."

He was tempted to make some sort of gesture but really, she was a bright lass, more than enough brain-power to detect the simple thread of thought within his almost still-born joke.

"What about immediate plans?... have you anything in your head about the future?"

[Cadence]

She grinned softly, having not explored much she simply wanted opinions. Gradually she kept her mind on topic as he spoke but it was rather hard. She had one hell of an imagination and could only guess what other lands lay ahead of her. She stifled the urge to sneeze and took in fresh moist air instead. She couldn’t get enough of this new experience. Dakota felt so greedy, inhaling the air as if she was the sole proprietor. She curled up slightly and continued to watch Cor with interest.

“They sound lovely.” She mentioned lightly.

Dakota had wished she had half the experience he did. Even one third was suitable. Adventurers seemed to have the best experiences, good and bad. Albeit she had thought, if one doesn’t have bad then they forget to savor the good. So in all generalizations, she liked to have a bit of both. It kept her well rounded and down to earth. She had seen what too much easy living did to people, made them pompous, greedy and ignorant to those around them.

“The town wasn’t much for anything. Mostly children learning smith trading. There wasn’t much of a farming sort and the views were rather bland from what I had gotten a peek of. My room didn’t have windows facing the horizon so I didn’t see much sunsets either. Pity really.”

With a slightly shrug Dakota easily forgot most of what she had said. Mainly bantering on about home sort of bored her. There wasn’t much of anything to be done there and adventures were far and few between.

“The future… hm.” She muttered in a slight thinking pose.

Dakota really had only thought of the immediate future. She was being treated wretchedly and thus ran. However, she hadn’t planned where to, who she would see or anything of the sort. She did not know anyone out of the town, simply knew leaving was probably the best choice. Dakota really didn’t care too much where she wandered so much as she found a niche on her travels.

“Not quite sure. Never had a clean cut destination. Simply knew I wanted to leave. Bit of a childish act on my part but it’ll work out for the best I think.”

Looking around as he carried her she noticed there were no boats or anything upon the water, albeit curious she didn’t really want to ask why. Plus, she was sure had she seen a boat she would still be clueless seeing as she had probably only seen one boat in her life thus far and it wasn’t even in the water.

“Hm, question. How about… what’s your favorite color?

She knew it was a simple question but none the less, an inquiry was an inquiry no matter what it asked.

[Corvus MacCallum]

Several more strides and the Highlanders steady gait changed, though only momentarily. Another little cluster of stones marred the boundry between grass and sand but instead of being an obstacle or annoyance like last time, now they would serve a purpose. With a smooth little flex of his knees and thigh the Highlander sprang himself from the sand onto the stones. Keeping the cute lass steady within his arms and against his chest Corvus made busy with the lower half of his body, soles of his feet rotating and turning with weight shift to try and scrape off some of the sand clinging at the joints in his toes and the main pad of his feet. Taking one of those turns a touch too far brought the mis-matched duet a rather full twirl before finally halting back upon the sands once more, both able to now see the fading light of a sunset.

"Feels a bit narrow-minded to simply pick one, so how about that right in front of us?"

He couldn't exactly point, his hands were too comfortable supporting the lass' low weight and certainly wasn't interested in making her get down but clearly she got the idea immediately. The Wolf-man smiling from the sunset down to her face, watching as those myriad of bright ruddy oranges, yellows and reds reflected a tiny portion of their light in her sight. The light seemed to love playing across her form, from the fair skin and shimmering platinum blonde of her hair, so much of it just caught the last few rays of the day and put them to exquisite use. Whereas upon his own form, apart from simply showing things brighter, the light had no real display quality thanks to his darker hues and earthy colourings.

"You know if you still haven't worked out anything, I'd be more than happy to have you along on my own travels, no real fixed destination or direction but I assure you there shall be plenty of wilderness and the odd daring doo heheh. Although I will admit the rainy days will be hard for you, not able to avoid it I'm afraid, when soaked thorough I do stink like the mongrel I am."

Unavoidable fact of life with a Highlander, they could be as clean living as they liked, but when drenched through rain or neglecting to dry themselves correctly the water loved to make their fur waft quite pungently in all directions. Great pick up line of course, telling a girl that when things get a damp you'll stink to high heaven, oh yea, completely charms them that.

"Lets see, how about your favourite adventure story, I'm sure you must have heard or read one. Maybe some shining prince on a white stallion rescuing a Princess?... met a few knobs... uh, nobles heh, who like to keep that little image in their minds no matter what side of the gender divide they belonged to."